Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes)

A member of the weasel family, the black-footed ferret is primarily a nocturnal animal that was nearly hunted to extinction in the 1960s.

DESCRIPTION:Black-footed ferrets spend about 90 percent of their time underground, where they eat, sleep and raise their young in prairie dog burrows. They are nocturnal, and leave their burrows at night to hunt prairie dogs.

APPEARANCE:The black-footed ferret has a tan body with black legs and feet, a black tip on the tail and a black mask. The ferret has short legs with large front paws and claws developed for digging. Its large skull and strong jaw and teeth are adapted for eating meat.

According to the IUCN this species is considered ENDANGERED.

LENGTH:15-18 inches (0.4-0.5 m)

WEIGHT:1-2 pounds (0.5-0.9 kg)

LIFE SPAN:3-4 years in the wild, 8-9 years in captivity

THREAT LEVEL:Endangered

HABITAT:Prairies/prairie dog range. In the past, southern Canada to Texas.

DIET:Prairie dogs (90% of diet). Black-footed ferrets are also known to eat ground squirrels, small rodents, rabbits and birds.

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